Measuring and dispensing apparatus.



` W. W. NICHOLS.

` MBASURING AND DISPBNSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC, 2. 1012.

Patented Feb. 1u,- 12315.

wu l m W. W. "I

WALTER W.' NICHOIS,"OF MELBQSE, MASSCHISETTS.

innesti-aine 'Ann nrsrnnsmo APPARATUS. A

niaaooe.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb.- fn, 119115. i

Application med December 2, -19152. Serial No. 734,464.

. marily intended to dispense liquids in measured quantities, and its object is to improve and perfect such devices. In dispensing apparatus of this class as heretofore made, such as that shown in my prior application Serial No..703,213, filed June'12, 1912, the

measuring faucet or valve was capable only of use in dispensing the measured'aanount and could not be used, to allow the contents to pass therethrough except in measured quantities. Therefore it wasvimpossible toallow a larger quantity than the measured amount to pass through such faucet at one time.

The object of'my present invention is to provide a measuring faucet which can be employed to dispense ameasured quantity and which also, at will,can be operated to allow a continuous flow: through the faucet, thus combining in a single valve the advanv tages incident to both a measuring device device isthat, in large culinary devices such l f as codec urns and the like, asmany measand an ordinary faucet.

,- An important advantage `of the present ured quantities or cups of coffee could be withdrawn as desired and then the vfaucet can be turned to permitjthe enti-re remaining contents to be drawn f oif at one time,

instead of as formerly, requiring the entire contents to be withdrawn a single cup at a time. This is of great importance in any large sized receptacle, both for use, saving repeated operations to withdraw more than the measured capacity of the faucet, and for cleaning the device, where *scalding water can be -poured into it andallowed to run through-continuously. In fact, without a faucet 'like that of my invention, permitting both a measured amount and -a continuous .flow therethrough, it is necessary to have.

two, faucets in large sized receptacles or urns, one tofdraw od' and clean the apparatus, andthe other to dlspense the contents..

.In smaller receptacles, such as that shown 1n my prior application, it ispossible either to upset the receptacle or to clean it from the top, but in the larger sized urns this operation is not feasible, and it is to the latter that my present device is especially applicable It is also an object of my present invention to provide an automatic drip 'proventi ing-attachment, which will be effective to prevent any dripping from the dischargin nozzle of the faucet when the valve is close by covering and closing the open end of the nozzle itself, such closing being operated 70 automatically when the valve is closed. Preferably ll provide this attachment, pivoted to the lower central part of the casing inclosing the working parts of the faucet, and so connect the attachment to the turning plug of the faucet that the operation of turning the plug to turn on or to shut o the flow therethrough, acts automatically to swingthe cover for the nozzle into and out of operative position correspondingly.

Other details lof lconstruction, combinations of parts and novel features of the invention will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed. y

Referring to the drawings, illustrating a 35 preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1 is a side view of the entire device, with a portion of the outer casing broken away to' show the turning plug; Fig.

2 is a View in cross section on the line 2-2 9o l of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the bot? tom of the faucet showing the drip preventing attachment; and Fig. 4 is a plan view' on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Any suitable form and size of faucet may be employed, but preferably l utilize a faucet and valve 'as shown, comprising a casing 1 having a spoutA or nozzle 2- andJ a threaded section 3, adapted'to be screwed into a correspondingly vthreaded socket of the receptacle to which the' faucet istobe attached. Preferably the casing has a conical or wedge shaped formation, and a. i correspondingly conical hollow plug 4:. is fitted therein having a stem 5 to which; is 105 secured the handle' in any suitablemanner held' in position b the headedascrew', as shown in Figi-1.A y he casingflis also pro-I vided with` afperipheral'- p dange 8, shown: astthreaded andein' which isscrewod a cover 110 9,1having a snitablofeenttal 'aperture for the lstern 5. 'Betweontheeoter @and the top 1d of the hollow plug 4, I preferably employ an expansive spring 11, which is coiled around the stem 5, and bears between the under surface of the cover 9 and against the top surface 10 in order to hold the plug firmly seated in its conical bearing within the casing 1. This construction insures a firm and tight fit at .all times during the( turning of the plug in said casing. The inner wall of the casing 1 is formed, near its top with a groove 12, and a lug 13, formed on the exterior of the turning plug 4, is arranged to traverse said groove. The groove 12 is formed only partly around the casing-1, ending at 14 and 15 and therefore the rotation of the hollow plug 4 -is confined within the limits of said groove. Preferably the end walls of. the groove 14 and 15 are lformed rounding, so as to act as a stop for the lug 13, and prevent the edge portions being hammered, or burred outwardly, which would scar and mar the face of the turning plug. -v

Arranged on the casing 1 at a point to intercept the plug 13 in its traversing action throughout v'the groove-12 is a thumb screw 16, threaded 4on to a correspondingly tapped socket 17, and having a smooth portion 18,' without threads, arranged to project into the groove 12. When the thumb nut 16 is manipulated so that the portion 18 projects into said groove, the turning plug is limited in its lrotation between the shoulders 15 and stop 18 by reason of the plug 13 bringing up against either the shoulder 15 or the stop 18. IWhen, however, the thumb nut` 1 6 is manipulated so that the portion 18 is withdrawn from the groove 12, then the turning plug 4 may be swung throughout the arc permitted by the entire length of the groove 12, as will be readily understood on reference to Fig. 2. Thevside wall of the turning plug 4 is provided with ports 19, 20, 21, and 22, the ports 19 and 21 being arranged in the'upper portion to register with the opening23 through the section 3, while the` portsv 20 and 22 are provided in the lower ortion of-.fthe turning plug 4 to register with the discharge opening 24 of the nozzle 2. These variousports are so positioned with relation to the lug 13, that' when the turning plu 4 isswungso thatthe lug 13 is in contact with .the st0p,a15, kthe vport 19- will lregister with the opening'.23, .vand the remaining ports will be vclosed by contact with the walls of the casingl. n this position the Aliquid contents olf=thelreceptacle to which the device is attachedl will flow through the ports 23 and-19 into the hollow cavity of the plug 4, filling upsythe'same.; Then when the lug is turned to theleft, viewing Figs. 1-and)2,the

. 1,011,223 will soon be closed by the wall 25 of this plug, and the vpori', 20 will thereafter be opened into communication with the passage and will nfully register with the i,129,ooa

same as the lug l13 is against the movable stop 18. When inithls position, the remaining ports 19, 21and 22 will be closed a ainstthe in n'er conical wall of the casing.

hen the contentsiiieasured by the capacity of the hollow yplug 4 have thus been discharged, the plug may be swung back and again filled anddischarged as often as desired. `H owev`er, when it is desired to allow a continuous flow of liquid through the plug, thetintermediateadwstable stop 16 is manipulated" so as to withdraw the projecting portion 1.8 r:from the groove 12, and thus permit the'plug-4 to be swung still farther to the left; and when swung so that the lug 13' contacts with the end wall 14, then the port 21 will be in register with the-intake portion 23, and the port 22 will be in register with the outlet 24, and thus a continuous flow is permitted. through the plu 4.

I desired, the' orts 20 and 22 may be formed as a sing e -large port, depending upon the innerwall of the casing 1 to limit the" capacity of outflow, the main feature being to perm1t either a measured quantity to be dispensed or a continuous flow to be allowed, through the same faucet. I believe that thecombination of these two yfeay.

tures in the same faucet is a distinct noveltyA in the art \to which this invention relates,l

and `I vtherefore wish to claim the same broadly. My invention contemplates the provision of any suitable means to accomplish this combined object, but preferably I utilize the construction herein shown, as thereby I am enabled to instantly change the faucet from a measuring to a continuous flow valve by simply moving the plug to a new position. Such movement could, of course, be accomplished without the intermediate stop 18, is employed as itl acts as a convenient means to prevent a too far movement while the faucet is being utilized as a measuring apparatus. A J

I provide 'an attachment which operates as a dripless' device or as ameans 4to close the opening 24, andthereforey to rpreventv any further flow or dripping from the nozzle 2 by means of a swinging plate or cover 26. This plate is of suitable slzeyandfcontour to comp etely cover the discharge lopenn .24 in the nozzle 2, and has a portion enten ing rearwardly to enable it to be, ivoted. at 27 to a cross bar 28, secured to t 4ebottoin of the casingl. The platet26-.extendsbeyond said pivot, having anaperture ,.29 arrangedA near itsv extreme inner end, in which apar-- ture is loosely ttedA a pin 30, tapped 1n a socket'31 inthe bottom.,o the pl 4. Asthe turninghplug 4 is swung in or er to be.. e pin 30 swings this` late ,26.

ut preferably such a stop of the plug, 1

ias

Liaaooa clearly seen on reference to Fig. 3.. 'llhe bar 28 and pin 30 are so positioned relatively with the ports in the turning plug 4 that as said plug is turned to allow the ports 19 and 23 to register, the plate 26 is in position to cover the delivery opening 24 and the nozzle 2. As the turning plug 4 is moved to swing the port 22 `to register with the delivery openingl24, the cover 26 is swung on its pivot 27 to free'said opening and permit the contents to be discharged therethrough. FurtherV movement of the plug 4, to permit continuous flow through the ports 2l and 22 of said plug simply acts to swing the plate 26 still farther' from the nozzle 2. In order to permit the entire swing of the pin 30, a recess 32 is provided in the bar 28 of suitable depth to allow .the turningplug 4v to be swung throughout the extreme limits required by the length of the groove 12.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a faucet which, will answer all the requirements and demands of a measuring or dispensing apparatus, and yet can be instantly utilized as a faucet permitting ycontinuous iiow therethrough. Thus the contents of the receptacle may be entirely drawn ofi' without delay, or, of course, a larger quantity than the measuring capacity of the turning plug 4 can be withdrawn at any time.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

41. An apparatus of` the kind described, having provision to dispense either a measured quantity of liquid or to permit a continuous liow of liquid therethrough at will, comprising a hollow' rotatable turning plug of predetermined capacity to dispense a measured quantity, filling and discharging ports opening into said hollow plug, a casing fitting outside said, plug, and permitting a relative rotative movement of the plug therein, saidv casing being formed with a plurality of ports adapted to register with the ports ofsaid plug during its rotative p movement, the ports of both plug and casing being constructed, positioned and arranged to register at the initiation of rotativemovement for filling the plug to dispense a measured quantity, and by a further rotative movement in the same direction to provide a continuous flow through the plug.

2. An appara-tus of the kind described, having provision to dispense a measured quantity and to permit a .continuous How therethrough at will, comprising a hollow turning plug having a plurality of illing and discharge ports therein, a casing-with cooperating filling and discharge ports,

adapted to register with the ports of said plug, and stops'to limit. the relative rotative movement of said plug Iand casing, con-4 structed and arranged .to cause a measured quantity to be dispensed by the movement of'a quarter turn of said plug, and by a further movement of said plug in the same di- Ifection to `permit a continuous flow therethrough.

3. An yapparatus of the kind described, comprising a casing having a plurality of ports, a hollow turning plug having a plurality of ports, said casing by a partial rotation of said plug, stops to limit the rotation of said plug so arranged whereby the intake and discharge ports of both plug and casing register at each end of the limit of rotation of said plug, respectively, in combination with an adjustable stop intermediate said limit of rotation, adapted to render other of said intake and discharge ports in register.

4. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising a casing having a plurality of ports and a hollow plug rotatable within said casing, two positive stops tolimit the relative rotation of said plug and casing, said plug having a predetermined capacity to receive and to dispense a measured quan tity of liquid, in combination with means to provide a continuous How of liquid through said plug, both the dispensing of the predetermined quantity and the provision for a continuous flow being afforded between the limit of movement permitted by said positive stops.

5. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising a casing having a plurality of ports anda hollow plug rotatable within said casing, two positive stops to limit the relative rotation of said plug and'casing to approximately one quarter of a revolution, said plug having a predetermined capacity vto receive and to dispense anieasured quantity of liquid, in combination with means to provide a continuous flow of liquid through said plug, both the dispensing of the predetermined quantity andthe provision for a continuous flow being afforded between the limit of movement permitted by said posiregistrable with the ports of tive kstops withinsaid quarter turn and by a f continuing movement in one direction.

In testimony whereof,I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses,

WALTER w? NrcnoLs.

Witnesses: n

JAMES R. I-IoDDER, EDWARD MAXWELL. 

